Warm-up: 2v2, "line football"
Organisation
- Organise mini-matches of 2v2 on multiple pitches
- Let the players pick their own partners or match them up by size and ability
- Play short matches (2-3 minutes) and create a league ladder
- Winners move up a pitch, losers move down
- Points are scored by stopping the ball on the end line
Ways to make the exercise easier
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The players can throw and catch the ball to begin with
Ways to make the exercise harder
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Make the pitch narrower
Great questions to ask the players
- Can you try to dribble past your opponent(s)?
- How can you help your partner when he/she has the ball?
- What should you do when you lose the ball?
Safety tips
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Create safe zones between pitches
Skill development: 3v2, 3 goals, no goalkeepers
Organisation
- Organise a pitch for 3v2, with one central goal at one end and two smaller goals in wide positions at the other end
- The team with three players attacks the central goal, while the team with two players starts off defending; if they win the ball, the defenders can counter-attack and try to score in one of the smaller goals
- Rotate the teams on the pitch, and swap the roles regularly, so everyone gets to play as a three and as a two
- Encourage the three attackers to make the pitch big and try to use the extra player they have in space
- Encourage the two defenders to try to score quickly if they win the ball (e.g. within five seconds)
Ways to make the exercise easier
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The players can throw and catch the ball to begin with
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Add a goalkeeper to the central goal
- Limit the number of touches for the attacking team
- Require all three attacking players to touch the ball before their team can score
Great questions to ask the players
- Can you try to pass to the player who is unmarked?
- If the defenders win the ball, can you break and try to score quickly?
- If you lose the ball as a three, can you quickly recover and take up defensive positions?
Safety tips
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Create a safe space to play and rotate players to give them a rest
Game application: 4v3, 3 goals, no goalkeepers
Organisation
- Organise a pitch for 4v3, with one central goal at one end and two smaller goals in wide positions at the other end
- The team with four players attacks the central goal, while the team with three players starts off defending; if they win the ball, the defenders can counter-attack and try to score in one of the smaller goals
- Rotate the teams on the pitch, and swap the roles regularly, so everyone gets to play as a four and as a three
- Encourage the four attackers to make the pitch big and try to use the extra player they have in space
- Encourage the three defenders to try to score quickly if they win the ball (e.g. within five seconds)
Ways to make the exercise easier
-
The players can throw and catch the ball to begin with
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Add a goalkeeper to the central goal
- Limit the number of touches for the attacking team
- Require all four attacking players to touch the ball before their team can score
Great questions to ask the players
- Can you try to pass to the player who is unmarked?
- If the defenders win the ball, can you break and try to score quickly?
- If you lose the ball as a four, can you quickly recover and take up defensive positions?
- How is the value of perseverance demonstrated in this game?
Safety tips
-
Create a safe space to play and rotate players to give them a rest